45 Colt cowboy action reloads

noelf2 · July 9, 2008, 08:05 PM

I usually reload 45 colt cases with black powder, but I have an old can of Unique smokeless that I would like to use up. It's the older dirty stuff, so it's not really like I'll be using a totally smokeless powder :barf:. I have the load data for cowboy action with this stuff but I have some concerns. I will be shooting these loads in an R&D conversion cylinder for my 58 rem replica. R&D only recommends using Black Hills smokeless cowboy action ammo. Anybody else reload with smokeless and use them in their R&D cylinder? Better yet, anybody using Unique??

long rider · July 9, 2008, 08:25 PM

NO worrys, i to have a 58 conversion,
i load accurate nitro 100 and no 2,
trail boss, hodgdon clays,titegroup
universal.and real bp to, so as long as
you keep the loads down you are good
to go. A lot of reloading manuals have
data for cowboy action now so theres
a big choice to pick from.

Ifishsum · July 9, 2008, 09:19 PM

I use Unique a lot in .45 colt, but not a conversion cylinder. 6 to 6.5 grains behind a 250-255 gr cast bullet will give you a nice easy load both for you and the gun.

noelf2 · July 9, 2008, 10:19 PM

Thanks, I feel a lot better about this now. The load data I have says minimum 6gr unique and max is 7.5gr with a 250gr rnfp lead bullet. I did plan to start with 6.5gr so I got out the scale and measured 6.5gr. I poured it into a 9mm luger case to see how much volume it takes and it was a couple mm below the top. So I measured again and poured it into a 380 auto case and found it to be a perfect fit. I dipped the 380 case in the unique a couple of times and checked the gr weight again - right on 6.5 to 6.6gr. Now I need to make a dipper out of the 380 case and start making some cowboy loads.

poko · July 9, 2008, 11:32 PM

Just got done shooting 50 rounds of .45 colt bullets through my 1860 (Pietta) Colt army (with a Kirst cylinder) My load consisted of 7 grains of unique and a 250 grain laser cast RNFP bullet. Shot fine, but I really need to dial it in, shot very high, even at 30 yards.

noelf2 · July 10, 2008, 06:44 AM

Poko, was windage ok? I wonder if you drop back to about 6.5gr it might bring it down a bit.

poko · July 10, 2008, 10:59 AM

Windage was perfect. I haven't tried 6.5 grains, I had these loaded up for my USFA .45 Colt SAA and just figured I would try em' in the Colt army. They shoot POA in my SAA.

noelf2 · July 10, 2008, 11:37 AM

Just a thought. Might want to try it before you start filing on the hammer. Does it shoot high with other ammo as well? or with the cap and ball cylinder? I shoot all kinds of ways with my remi so I don't really want to dial it in to a particular cartridge or c&b load. I just do a mental compensation usually

poko · July 10, 2008, 03:04 PM

Yep, shoots high with BP too, just not as high. I understand it's typical with these.

Hawg · July 10, 2008, 03:29 PM

They're sighted in for 75 yds. as were the originals. Newer Pietta Remingtons have taller front sights so shoot closer to POA, not sure about Uberti. Everything elsa AFAIK still have low front sights.

long rider · July 10, 2008, 05:01 PM

Try 4.9 grns of trail boss and a 250grn LRNFP,
this is a nice easy load, from there you can go
up or down, plus t.b fills up the 45 case so you
do not get to much tumbling in the case.

poko · July 10, 2008, 11:45 PM

I have heard some good things about trail boss; I like the idea of filling up the case. Has that been a fairly accurate load for you Long Rider?

long rider · July 11, 2008, 04:35 PM

Sorry i took so long to get back to you ,
yes i have been very happy with t/boss, and
it is clean to, i played about with differnt loads,
there starting loads are 250grnLRNFP 4.5
max loads are 5.8, i have not gone that high
but i went doen as far as 3.5 it got to the target,
out of all the smokles t/boss is the best, er for me
that is. But haveing said that you can not beat
REAL BLACK POWDER.

July 9, 2008, 08:05 PM	#1
noelf2 Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2008 Location: Stuart, VA Posts: 2,473	45 Colt cowboy action reloads I usually reload 45 colt cases with black powder, but I have an old can of Unique smokeless that I would like to use up. It's the older dirty stuff, so it's not really like I'll be using a totally smokeless powder :barf:. I have the load data for cowboy action with this stuff but I have some concerns. I will be shooting these loads in an R&D conversion cylinder for my 58 rem replica. R&D only recommends using Black Hills smokeless cowboy action ammo. Anybody else reload with smokeless and use them in their R&D cylinder? Better yet, anybody using Unique??

July 9, 2008, 08:25 PM	#2
long rider Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2008 Posts: 669	NO worrys, i to have a 58 conversion, i load accurate nitro 100 and no 2, trail boss, hodgdon clays,titegroup universal.and real bp to, so as long as you keep the loads down you are good to go. A lot of reloading manuals have data for cowboy action now so theres a big choice to pick from. __________________ Sod Buster Tried To Pull On Willson.

July 9, 2008, 11:32 PM	#5
poko Member Join Date: December 16, 2007 Posts: 22	Unique Just got done shooting 50 rounds of .45 colt bullets through my 1860 (Pietta) Colt army (with a Kirst cylinder) My load consisted of 7 grains of unique and a 250 grain laser cast RNFP bullet. Shot fine, but I really need to dial it in, shot very high, even at 30 yards.

July 10, 2008, 10:59 AM	#7
poko Member Join Date: December 16, 2007 Posts: 22	Unique Windage was perfect. I haven't tried 6.5 grains, I had these loaded up for my USFA .45 Colt SAA and just figured I would try em' in the Colt army. They shoot POA in my SAA.

July 10, 2008, 05:01 PM	#11
long rider Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2008 Posts: 669	Try 4.9 grns of trail boss and a 250grn LRNFP, this is a nice easy load, from there you can go up or down, plus t.b fills up the 45 case so you do not get to much tumbling in the case. __________________ Sod Buster Tried To Pull On Willson.

July 9, 2008, 09:19 PM	#3
Ifishsum Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,033	I use Unique a lot in .45 colt, but not a conversion cylinder. 6 to 6.5 grains behind a 250-255 gr cast bullet will give you a nice easy load both for you and the gun.

July 9, 2008, 10:19 PM	#4
noelf2 Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2008 Location: Stuart, VA Posts: 2,473	Thanks, I feel a lot better about this now. The load data I have says minimum 6gr unique and max is 7.5gr with a 250gr rnfp lead bullet. I did plan to start with 6.5gr so I got out the scale and measured 6.5gr. I poured it into a 9mm luger case to see how much volume it takes and it was a couple mm below the top. So I measured again and poured it into a 380 auto case and found it to be a perfect fit. I dipped the 380 case in the unique a couple of times and checked the gr weight again - right on 6.5 to 6.6gr. Now I need to make a dipper out of the 380 case and start making some cowboy loads.

July 10, 2008, 06:44 AM	#6
noelf2 Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2008 Location: Stuart, VA Posts: 2,473	Poko, was windage ok? I wonder if you drop back to about 6.5gr it might bring it down a bit.

July 10, 2008, 11:37 AM	#8
noelf2 Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2008 Location: Stuart, VA Posts: 2,473	Just a thought. Might want to try it before you start filing on the hammer. Does it shoot high with other ammo as well? or with the cap and ball cylinder? I shoot all kinds of ways with my remi so I don't really want to dial it in to a particular cartridge or c&b load. I just do a mental compensation usually

July 10, 2008, 03:04 PM	#9
poko Member Join Date: December 16, 2007 Posts: 22	Yep, shoots high with BP too, just not as high. I understand it's typical with these.

July 10, 2008, 03:29 PM	#10
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	They're sighted in for 75 yds. as were the originals. Newer Pietta Remingtons have taller front sights so shoot closer to POA, not sure about Uberti. Everything elsa AFAIK still have low front sights.

July 10, 2008, 11:45 PM	#12
poko Member Join Date: December 16, 2007 Posts: 22	I have heard some good things about trail boss; I like the idea of filling up the case. Has that been a fairly accurate load for you Long Rider?

July 11, 2008, 04:35 PM	#13
long rider Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2008 Posts: 669	Sorry i took so long to get back to you , yes i have been very happy with t/boss, and it is clean to, i played about with differnt loads, there starting loads are 250grnLRNFP 4.5 max loads are 5.8, i have not gone that high but i went doen as far as 3.5 it got to the target, out of all the smokles t/boss is the best, er for me that is. But haveing said that you can not beat REAL BLACK POWDER. __________________ Sod Buster Tried To Pull On Willson.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search